Mental Disorders Impede Diabetes Care

Patients with schizophrenia and major mood disorders have
higher rates of type 2 diabetes, compared with patients without
mental illness. New research has found, however, that these
patients often comprehend less about their disease.

Both disorders affect cognitive function and can impede normal
attentiveness, learning, and motivationsessentials in the
self-care of type 2 diabetes. The researchers also learned that
patients with mental illness and diabetes can improve if they are
given specific instructions about diabetes and how to cope. (The
findings were reported in Psychosomatics, September 2005.)